Viper runs hot when sitting in traffic

splochocki · Aug 23, 2014

I've had my car or 9 years and it's been trouble free until this summer. Had to replace a relay, temp coolant sensor, and radiator/hoses. For the amount of time I've had the car I'm happy of course.

However since I started having issues seems the car will run hot when sitting in traffic. This has happed a few times in traffic on the freeway and the temp goes high.
If I get moving it cools down in a few minutes. In the instances I've flipped on the heat also. Burped the cooling system but the problem persists. Basically scared to drive this thing. Don't ever remember the car running this hot before........attached a screen print of the gauge at its highest yesterday. Any higher I'd shut it down.

Looking for ideas on what could be wrong. Appreciate the feedback fellas.

Mr U-2 · Aug 23, 2014

I've seen mine that hot
only after track time....you might
check the water pump, belt,
fan. Viper Tech
time probably.
Good luck

splochocki · Aug 23, 2014

Serp belt was also replaced when the rest was done. Fans definitely run but hard to hear if high speed kicks in with the car running sitting in traffic.

Thanks it's probably time for the Viper Tech.

viper k · Aug 23, 2014

when your sitting in traffic dont hit the gas just let it idol because if you goose the gas pedal the temp will go up !!!!!!

klamathpro · Aug 23, 2014

How hot has it been when you see these temps? Was your coolant hoses completely burped of air? Original stat? Your temps are not dangerous, especially if it's been hot out, but some things can be done to help. You can get an SCT tuner and have Sean Roe send you a fan tune that kicks it in sooner. A 170 degree stat can help. Definitely make sure the system is purged of air and that the overflow bottle in the wheel-well has coolant. The one in the engine bay may be filled but the wheel-well one may be empty because of lack of coolant or too much air in the whole system. Squeeze that top hose with a rag while hot. It should feel squishy with coolant, not bloated with air.

splochocki · Aug 24, 2014

The coolant was replaced by the Viper mechanic who replaced all the parts. It was burped several times. The original thermostat is still in the car.

Honestly need to find the overflow bottle in the wheel-well. I've squeezed the top hose and it feels squishy during the burp process.
Thanks for the response I will take a look at the overflow bottle.

VIPER GTSR 91 · Aug 24, 2014

Its most likely the cooling fan as I remember others having this problem too in the past.

splochocki · Aug 24, 2014

I can hear the fan turn on.....however not certain if high speed kicks in as I said above.
You still think cooling fan? Want to say temps have only been mid-80's or so when my biggest issues have popped up.

Roy · Aug 24, 2014

Is it still on it's original radiator? My rt/10 ran far more cool with the rebuild unit...it turned out it was about time to refresh the thing

ACR_VP · Aug 24, 2014

Jeez the "Time for a Viper Tech" talk is crazy, 9/10 times I'd trust myself to fix something right way before I'd let someone else do it...

You made sure to mix the coolant before refilling the system right

Otherwise it's either going to be the water pump going, or a problem with the fan... The fact that you had to replace the relay and that it cools down when you are driving makes me lean towards something with the fan. I highly doubt it has anything to do with the overflow bottle.

ViperRed · Aug 25, 2014

Get a relay that will turn the high speed fan on earlier. Around 190.

AZTVR · Aug 25, 2014

splochocki said:
Had to replace a relay, temp coolant sensor, and radiator/hoses. For the amount of time I've had the car I'm happy of course.

1. Were these items replaced due to this issue, or was that just a list of things done some time in the past years?
2. Does "radiator/hoses" mean that you replaced the radiator and the hoses? If not, I would suggest getting the radiator rodded out.
3. Have you checked the wiring and connections at the socket that the relays are plugged in to? If you see signs of heat damage, there is probably a high resistance issue with the connections. There have been quite a few threads about this on the this and the VA forum over the years.
4. On earlier Vipers, (I don't know what years) there is more than one coolant sensor, so if you replaced the one for the dash gauge, that could be different than the one that is used by ECU for determining when to turn on fans.

Talon · Aug 25, 2014

I'll try to remember to get a picture of the Viper Diagnostic manual tonight when I get home. The temperature you're experiencing is in normal operating temperature range for a scenario or two. I'll take the picture and post it. If for example, you're sitting in traffic on a hot day, that type of temperature range is considered "normal" although it's never fun to see it there.

Big Dog · Aug 25, 2014

My 95 ran hotter than that in fact pegged out on the gauge and I had to pull over and let it cool down .A new thermostat was the fix no trouble since

JohnnyBravo · Aug 26, 2014

Depending on ambient temps and whether or not the AC was running, that is not abnormal. I have my fans set to come on early, run a mixture of about 35/65 coolant/water, add water wetter, burp the system, etc. Everything is up to task. But if it's over 90 degrees, the AC is on, and the car is just sitting in traffic, I'll see that 225 temp also. As soon as I start moving, it drops. If I turn off the AC, it drops. If the ambient temps are under 90, it won't even get that high. But seeing that coolant temp is not shocking depending on conditions. If it goes into the red, you have a problem. But just seeing 225 degrees under the circumstances I've described doesn't scare me anymore at all.

Stuntman · Aug 26, 2014

Is that last hash mark before the red 225*?

Does the secondary fan kick on at 220*?

ViperRed · Aug 26, 2014

Looks fine to me for a hot ambient condition. This was mine yesterday with AC on.

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Luisv · Aug 27, 2014

I live in Florida and, in the summer, the temps range in the 90´s with high humidity. I ran with similar temps the first summer I owned the car. I then swapped to a lower thermostat and the Roe fan kit. I did it when I had to change a failed fan. The Roe kit basically has the fans cycle at a temperature you set. For example, when the engine hits 200 instead of 215 degrees. By doing that the fans come earlier and keep the engine cooler.

As mentioned above, I think you may have an issue with the fan. Since the car cools down when you move (getting air through the radiator and cooling things down) I would guess you may have an issue where the high speed does not kick in and/or the fan does not make it to full speed.

I'd check if the high speed comes on by driving the car around the block near your neighborhood then park it idle in the driveway. Let it run. You should hear the high speed kick in. If it does not, then you know the fan is the culprit.

RT/ED · Aug 31, 2014

My 95 was doing the same thing following a coolant change. Burping alone rarely eliminates all of the air in the system. I suspect you still have air in the system. The "Wizard" (Chuck Tator) recommends carefully removing the heater hose connecting the thermostat to the heater control valve on the passenger side near the windshield. Add coolant directly into the heater hose until full. I did this with mine and the engine took almost another 2-3 quarts of antifreeze/water mix which fills the engine block 90+%. Only do this when the engine is cool as you are filling the right side of the engine block with coolant. Check the coolant reservoir after the next two to three drives when cooled down and add coolant as required to top off. Have not had a problem since, with average temp running 195 - 200 in heavy traffic on hot days. Worth a try before you dig into changing the thermostat. Hope this helps!

bvk · Aug 31, 2014

yeah looks fine to me, mine gets there sometimes. then the fan turns on

Sybil TF · Aug 31, 2014

I have a 96 GTS with a big fat Fluidyne rad and stock t-stat. Mine never goes past the 3rd tick on the 190 in 100 degree heat. I also run Evan's coolant. The factory radiator is inefficient for my liking but opinions vary...

AJ02 · Sep 1, 2014

klamathpro said:
How hot has it been when you see these temps? Was your coolant hoses completely burped of air? Original stat? Your temps are not dangerous, especially if it's been hot out, but some things can be done to help. You can get an SCT tuner and have Sean Roe send you a fan tune that kicks it in sooner. A 170 degree stat can help. Definitely make sure the system is purged of air and that the overflow bottle in the wheel-well has coolant. The one in the engine bay may be filled but the wheel-well one may be empty because of lack of coolant or too much air in the whole system. Squeeze that top hose with a rag while hot. It should feel squishy with coolant, not bloated with air.

A 170 thermostat will have absolutely no effect on running temp at all, unless it's cold enough outside to freeze a witch's ***.

Viper runs hot when sitting in traffic

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